Examinations

Your eye examination

Examinations

Vision – Health – Technology – Time

Each part of the comprehensive eye examination that we provide is included to give us essential information regarding your vision and health. We provide a comprehensive eye examination as standard. You will find some opticians offer a basic test, with some adding on additional tests as ‘extras’. We believe all eye examinations should include in-depth scans using the highest quality technology available on the market to ensure we have the best picture of your eye health and vision.

We see the value in using advanced technology to detect and monitor eye health and to calculate your prescription. We also offer generous appointment durations with highly trained optometrists so that no question you have will go unanswered.

To provide this care our eye examination comes in two parts. There are some core tests as well as those tailored to each patient’s needs. This means that all ages can benefit from an assessment. If you have any particular communication needs then please feel free to discuss this with the optometrist in advance of the appointment to ensure we make the eye examination a positive experience for everyone. All our tests are comfortable and most patients find them interesting and informative.

Pre-screening
Using advanced technology our optical technician will perform an assessment of your peripheral vision which checks for glaucoma and other conditions affecting the optic nerve. They will also take a series of digital images of your eyes. The OCT scanner looks in depth through structures of your eyes such as the optic nerve and the layers of the retina, underneath the visible surface of the eye. This scan produces images in even greater detail than an MRI scanner. Our Optos California scanner shows up to 97% of the retina in one image and we are currently the only optometrist in Scotland to use the world’s most detailed retinal scanner.

With your optometrist
The optometrist will take time to discuss the reason for your visit, your visual requirements and demands. They will then perform the required tests in addition to discussing and demonstrating the prescreening test results. These include:Refraction: Recording your vision and calculating the spectacle and contact lens prescriptions and checking for astigmatism, long and short sightedness.Binocular vision tests: Assessing the comfort of your vision eyes and their ability to work together to keep the vision comfortable and balanced.Tonometry and pachymetry: A check of the pressure of the eye and the thickness of your cornea which relates to glaucoma.Slit lamp examination: A biomicroscope used to assess the health of the front of the eye in up to 40 times magnification allowing us to view down to the level of individual cells on the layers of the front of the eye.Ophthalmoscopy: In addition to carefully examining and analysing all the images and scans captured during prescreening, we will examine the eye using a special microscope and focusing lenses to give a live 3D view of the all the internal structures of the eye checking for glaucoma, macular degeneration, cataract and a host of other conditions.

Other additional tests, not described above, may be performed in specific situations. These will be explained to you during the eye examination. If you find any test particularly difficult the let the optometrist know and they can offer suitable alternatives. The tests do vary for children, they get the fun ones!

On completion, you will receive a copy of your personal glasses prescription, calculated precisely by our optometrist, and advice on what optical solutions are best for you. You should leave feeling reassured that you have had a thorough eye examination and with a clear understanding of your own eyes, both in terms of vision and eye health